Wow! Can you believe we are already onto the third day of 2009? Time definitely flies when you are having fun. Speaking of fun, 2008 was actually not a fun year for me. In fact, it was a year of abrupt changes... a year when my emotions, patience and learning potential were put to the test. I am happy to report that I have survived through all of the obstacles that came my way, but man it was tough!

Earlier last month, one of my best friends summarized my 2008 in just a few words: "a year of the firsts." In spring, I attended a same-sex wedding ceremony for the very first time and absolutely loved it. I also witnessed the downfall and coped with the fallout of my first romantic relationship. Not long after, I had to say goodbye to one of my first close friends of 13 years as she returned home to pursue her goals in a different lifestyle.

I was hoping that things would at least settle down come the second half of the year, but that was definitely not the case. This fall, I scored my first full-time permanent gig, but not before I had my contract employment terminated a couple of months prior. And of course, after a 13-year wait, my family and I finally moved into our very first house. Surprisingly though, I was actually not as excited as some would expect.

Come to think of it, I actually felt quite overwhelmed at times during the past year. I wished that I was given a chance to take a couple of breathers at the very least prior to resuming my 90 km/h journey. Fortunately, things are stabilizing somewhat as we head into 2009. If all things go according to plan, I will be resuming my HR courses once again in just a couple of weeks. Oh, I can't wait to get my CHRP designation!

Even though 2008 was an emotionally challenging year for me, it actually brought me much closer to my friends and family. Without their support during my difficult times, I would not have bounced back that quickly like an Energizer Bunny. Wait, the Energizer Bunny doesn't stop though; he just keeps on going and going and going... Anyhow, you get the idea!

As an individual who values continuous learning, 2008 might have turned out to be the best year ever in regard to my personal and professional growth. Sure, it might not have been a pleasant experience encountering that many steep learning curves all at once, but the experience would make me become a wiser, stronger and better person. Considering what is happening around the world right now with the economic crisis and political turmoil, I should feel very lucky because I know that there are people out there who are faring much worse than I am. I am surrounded by people whom I love dearly and vice versa; and I am very grateful.

In conclusion, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you whom I had the opportunity to gain inspiration and strength from during the past year... up until the very last day of 2008. All the best in 2009!

Currently Reading Pretending You Care: The Retail Employee Handbook By Norman Feuti see related

Can you believe that the month of July is almost coming to an end? Even though everything seems to be all over the place, I am actually enjoying this freshness of life (Please don't ask me what the heck is "freshness of life"... I guess you can call this BS if you want.). For those people who are concerned about my well-being, I thank you for your kind words and encouraging messages. I am feeling much better; and I can't wait to take on new challenges coming in my way.

Not only has this newfound singleness allowed me to try new things that I have never done before, it has also re-ignited my interests in areas which I have been neglecting for years. My first try at indoor rock climbing and at the golfing range was definitely a fun one. In addition, I have started picking up some books to read for leisure. If you guys have any book recommendations that I should know about, please send them to me.

Before I forget, I would also like to congratulate all of my friends who have passed the School of Accountancy exam. You deserve a pat in the back for all of your hard work and dedication during the last couple of months. Let me tell you, things can only get better from here and on...

The past month has been one of the most emotionally draining months for me in a long while. Dealing with the aftermath and emotions of a breakup has been much more challenging than first thought. There were speculation, anger, bitterness, sadness, fear, false hope and everything in between. I thought that I would be able to stay strong and not let "noise" get into my head, but it certainly was not easy. I would start questioning about everything that might have led to the downfall of the relationship: my flaws, methods of communication (or the lack of), potential meanings of certain messages, incompatibility, third wheel, cheating, and etc. I must admit that sometimes I can get too overcritical of myself and can start overthinking and worrying over things that may be relatively minor in nature. This is a habit that I should get rid of before I start to drive myself to the wall.

I am grateful that my family, friends and co-workers are here supporting me during this challenging time. All of them have provided me with valuable insights on the topic of relationships and on dealing with breakups. They have seen my tears, my (forced) smiles, my doubts, my fears and much more; and I can tell you that I am not going to let them down. This experience has also made me realized how much I have neglected my family and friends during my time spent with my ex. Now that I am single, I am definitely going to make more of an effort to go out there to spend time with the various friends of mine, despite our busy and sometimes conflicting schedules.

Even though the breakup is still hurting me to a certain extent, I am going to take all of this in and view this as a major learning experience for me. Being nice and accommodating may not necessarily bring you a good outcome every time, but the one big thing that I am proud of myself for during the course of the relationship is that I have tried my best at everything I can do to love a person, and that I have taken a risk in pursuing this relationship. I may be angry at myself for not speaking out on things that I was dissatisfied with or disapproved of in the relationship, but I have no regrets. I am going to learn from this major experience and try not to make the same mistakes again. I cannot predict what will happen to the two of us down the road, but at this time, the last thing I need to do is to see him. I am hurt; and I am not going to let him hurt me again.

Currently Listening Pocketful of Sunshine By Natasha Bedingfield see related

I know that I have been away for so long... but hey I'm back! That's right! Kevin is coming back to voice his concerns, questions, you name it! It has been a tough week so far, but I can't wait to see and experience bigger and better things in the coming days and months! Bring on the new era bitches!